Bull ring



March 26, 1935. M. J. svoRN BULL RING Filed March '24, 1935 5. e m f 3 I m/ m y @swm wu gy" Patented Mar. 26, 1935 PATENr orriw 1 I I BULL KING 7 Martin J. SVcremIRacine, 'Wis., assignor to I Allover Manufacturing (30., Racine, Wis.

I rascal-la. March 24, 1933, sei-a No. 662,497

5 Claims.

This invention pertains-to b'ull rings,.and has primarily for its object to provide a comparatively inexpensive, self-locking ring so constructed as to prevent opening throughv springing of 1 the ring in any direction 'afterthe same has been locked in the septum of-the animal.

Incidental to the foregoing, a 'more specific object resides in the provisionoian improved latch, so designed that the separable parts of the latch are interengaged to brace one another in all directions and prevent accidental opening of the latch through springing of the pivotally connected sections. 1 a

A still. further object desides in the provision of a ring embodying the foregoing characteristics,.which can be opened for removal, if desired,

and in the event the same becomesaccidentally closed in shipping or handling; 3 i

With the above and other'objects inview, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides inthe novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes 'i'ntheprecise embodimentof the heroin disclosed invention may be made as comewithin the scope of the claims. r

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated one complete example of the physical'embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the bestmode so far devised for the practical application'of theprinciples thereof.

In the drawing:- l:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a' ring constructed in accordancewiththe presentinvention, parts being broken away and in section to 'more clearly illustrate the structural features.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of thelocking ends in open position.

Figure 3 is a'transversesection takenbnthe line 3-3 of Figure 1. I I

Figure 4- is a fragmentary plan view of the locking ends, a

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail, partly in section, illustrating the hinge connection between the sections of the ring.

As commonly known, rings of the present type are utilized in the nose of cattle, and it is customary to pierce the septum in order to attach and lock the ring thereon. There are numerous types of rings on the market at the present time, some of which are provided with spring latches, while others are locked to the nose with screws or other forms of connecting devices, which require, an awkward operation. Heretofore the most serious objection encountered in self-lock ing rings resulted from the fact that in the event the rings are sprung, the latches have a tendency to release, freeing the animal or resulting'in the loss of the ring.

The present invention'aiins to overcome the foregoing objections by a comparatively simple structure that can be manufactured at low cost, and which is both self-piercing and latching, thus eliminating the additional operation of piercing the animals septum. H

Referring nowamore particularly to-the accompanying drawing, the ring 1 comprisesa pair of complementary sections 2 and 2, respectively, which are semi-circular, and pivotally connected at one end by a studor rivet 3; As best shown in Figure 1', the connected. end of the section 2 is provided with a slot 4 forreception of the re-' ducedtongue 5 formed on the end of the adjacent section 2'. It will also be noted that the inner end of the slot 4. is formed .upon a chord intersecting the inner circumference of the ring, while the outer end of the section '2, as well as the shoulder 6, are formed upon a chord diverging from that of the inner endof the slot 4, thus permitting the sections to be swungv outwardly and brace each other toward any inward movement.

In order to brace the free abutting ends of the sections 2 and2 against radial movement when the same are latched, the end of the section 2 is provided with a notch '7 for receptionv of the tapered end 8 of the adjacent section 2".

' plate 11 being secured within the slot 9 of the section 2 by means of a stud orrivet 13, while the plate 12 is fastened within the slot of the adjacent section 2 by a screw or equivalent at- -tachin'g device 14, thus perniitting'removal of the plate 12 for the purpose to'be herein after described." Y i- As best shown in Figure 1,'it will be noted that the inner ends of the slots 9 and the plates 11 and 12 are also formed on chords, thus bracing the plates against outward pivotal movement. The plate 12 is provided with a restricted prong 15 projecting beyond the tapered or pointed end of the section 2, and having a pointed end which serves as a piercing medium, thus eliminating the necessity of utilizing a separate tool for the 12 is arcuately cut away at 16 to provide a notch 17 positioned within the slot 9 of the section 2', for reception and engagement with the nose 18 of the latch dog 19, which is pivoted within the slot 9 of the adjacent section 2.

It will be noted that the cutaway portion 16 is formed upon a greater arc than the outer end of the nose 18, which prevents the plate 12 from camming the nose outwardly in the event of distortion of the ring. In instances where a rivet is utilized, instead of the screw 14, for permanent attachment of the plate 12, means must be provided for opening or releasing the latch dog 19. Therefore, a notch 16' is provided in the arcuate cutout portion 16 to permit the insertion of a suitable tool for engaging the nose 18 and prying the latch dog upwardly, at the same time forcing the pivotal sections 2 and 2' apart.

As best shown in Figure 1, the plate 11 is provided with a recess 20 for reception of a latch spring 21, the end 22 of which engages the tail 23 formed on the pivoted end of the latch dog 19. It will also be noted that the outer upper end 24 of the latch plate 11 engages the top of the tall 23, thus receiving a portion of any strain exerted upon the pivot of the latch in an outward direction. The lower end 25 of the plate 11 is beveled off in the direction of the opposite section 2' and fits under the prong 15 of the plate 12 when the ring is locked and the plates abut, as best shown in Figure 1. Likewise, the prong 15 engages the lower pivoted end of the latch dog 19 when the ring is locked. Thus it will be seen that the point 15 is held against radial movement in one direction by the end 25, and in the other by the dog 19, thus preventing the prong from being sprung, should the pressure exerted upon the ring tend to elongate or spring the same.

From the foregoing explanation, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily seen that a comparatively simple, inexpensive, and rigidly locked bull ring has been provided, which is both self-piercing and selflocking. When the pivotally connected sections of the ring are locked, the separable portions of the latch are so engaged to brace each other against movement in all directions, thus preventing accidental opening of the ring. The cost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum, in that the latch members are formed independently of the ring sections, it being merely necessary to slot the ends of the ring sections for securely and rigidly assembling the latch members therein.

Should the ring become accidentally locked in handling or shipping, the same can be readily opened by removing the screw 14, which releases the latch plate 12, and in the event it is desired to provide for permanent locking of the ring, the same can be readily accomplished by merely upsetting one end of the screw 14 for insertion. When a rivet is employed for permanently attaching the plate 12 to the section 2', the notch 16 allows a tool, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 1, to be utilized for releasing the latch dog and opening the ring. In most instances the latter form is preferable.

I claim:-

1. A bull ring comprising complementary semi-circular sections pivotally connected at one end and slotted at their free ends, latch plates secured in said slots for engagement with each other, and a pivotal spring-urged latch dog secured in one of said slots for locking engagement with the latch plate of the adjacent slot, said dog being accessible with a tool for releasing the same from the opposing latch plate.

2. A bull ring comprising complementary semicircular sections pivotally connected at one end and provided with alined longitudinal slots in their free ends, a latch plate secured in each of said slots, a piercing prong carried by one of said plates for projection in the adjacent slot and in interengagement with the plate secured in said adjacent slot, and a pivotal spring-urged latch dog secured in one of said slots for locking engagement with the latch plate provided with the piercing prong, said dog being accessible with a tool for releasing the same from the opposing latch plate.

3. A bull ring comprising complementary semicircular sections pivotally connected at one end and slotted at their free ends, a recessed latch plate secured in one of said slots, a locking dog pivotally mounted in said slot adjacent said latch plate, a spring positioned in said latch plate for holding said dog in locked position, and a latch plate detachably secured in the slot of the adjacent section and provided with a piercing prong projecting into the slot of the adjacent section for interengagement with the latch plate carried by said slot.

4. A bull ring comprising complementary semicircular sections pivotally connected at one end and slotted at their free ends, a recessed latch plate secured in one of said slots a locking dog pivotally mounted in said slot adjacent said latch plate, a spring positioned in said latch plate for holding said dog in locked position, and a latch plate detachably secured in the slot of the adjacent section and provided with a piercing prong projecting into the slot of the adjacent section for interengagement with the latch plate carried by said slot, said prong being confined between said latch plate and latch dog.

5. A bull ring comprising complementary, semicircular sections pivotally connected at one end and slotted at their free ends, a recessed latch plate secured in one of said slots, a locking dog pivotally mounted in said slot adjacent said latch plate, a spring positioned in said latch plate for holding said dog in locked position, and a latch plate secured in the slot of the adjacent section and provided with a piercing prong projecting into the slot of the adjacent section for interengagement with the latch plate carried by said slot, said first-mentioned latch plate being provided with a notch adjacent the nose of said latch dog to permit the insertion of a tool for releasing said latch dog.

MARTIN J. SVOREN. 

